ITU-Industry Meeting

​The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated not only the importance of digital connectivity and technology but also the need for partnerships. As part of COVID-19 response and recovery measures, member countries around the region have developed and implemented various digital applications and services on a range of topics, including e-learning, e-business, e-health, and e-agriculture. For these applications to be effective and impactful, digital connectivity needs to be extended more rapidly to the unconnected and under-connected communities, while also being scaled up to deliver digital services in under-connected communities. 

In response to the above challenges and in recognition of the urgency, the Secretary-General of the United Nations published the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation to highlight the importance of digital technology in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in July in 2020. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), as the specialized UN agency in digital technology with Membership across government entities, industry, international organizations, research institutions and academia, has been supporting the acceleration of the digital journey of its Members through a wide range of initiatives including the implementation of ITU's Buenos Aires Action Plan and the regional initiatives in Asia and the Pacific.

The role of industry is crucial in full realization of digital transformation and sustainably connecting the underserved and unconnected by 2030. Partnerships with the ITU industry members, which have technical, financial, and operational resources, would greatly contribute towards the common goal. In order to facilitate close cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region amongst the ITU industry members and partners, it is proposed to establish an ITU Industry Informal Working Group for Asia and the Pacific with the overall objective of producing common public goods for advancement of digital transformation towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to leave no one behind.